Sampling Ann Arbor's best breakfast restaurants
Syrup is poured over a stack of pancakes at Nick's Original House of Pancakes in Ann Arbor.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
MLive statewide entertainment reporter John "Gonzo" Gonzalez has ordered a "double" from Washtenaw Dairy, covered his face in BBQ sauce at Red Rock and Satchel's BBQ, and today he'll take on everything from flapjacks to omelets in his search for the best breakfast joint in Michigan.
AnnArbor.com readers nominated dozens of restaurants known for serving up a great hot breakfast, including the likes of Ypsilanti's Beezy's Cafe and Ann Arbor's Fleetwood Diner.
Following a week of voting, the three at the top of the list were:
- Angelo's - 1100 Catherine St Ann Arbor, MI 48104
- Northside Grill - 1015 Broadway St Ann Arbor, MI 48105
- Nick's Original House of Pancakes - 3030 Lohr Cir Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Follow along in the widget below starting at 6 a.m. as Gonzo visits each of these three restaurants to sample some of their best offerings. Will he leave room for his afternoon visit to Detroit, or will he end up in a bacon-egg-hashbrown induced coma as AnnArbor.com's own Pete Cunningham and Kyle Feldscher did when they attempted to conquer "The Bomber Breakfast"?
Which of the three restaurants Gonzo visited today is your personal favorite? Tell us in the comments below.
Comments
Jessica Webster
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 3:40 p.m.
What I found interesting about all the places we visited is that while each stop had unique specialties, they also all reported that just a simple 2-egg breakfast is one of their best sellers.
Alfred E. Newman's Ghost
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 3:35 p.m.
What, me hungry?
treetowncartel
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 2:46 p.m.
So, is he eating all of the entree's or are we doing this them American way and wasting a lot of food?
Jessica Webster
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 3:39 p.m.
We're making sure the food doesn't go to waste, treetowncartel. I share your concern about that.
tdw
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 3:03 p.m.
Don't worry your'e not paying for it
Andy Piper
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 2:30 p.m.
Still hard to get whole grain pancakes. The Bomber has the best pancakes in my opinion. Also, where is is Afternoon delight? Or even Zola's for omeletes? Ann Arbor has room for another good spot - these places are soo hard to get into, long lines etc.
Paula Gardner
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 2:30 p.m.
Best part of my morning was when Jessica and Melanie showed up with the leftovers. Thumbs up to all of the bacon!
John Counts
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 2:20 p.m.
They're all so good! On my plate. Right now.
A2BugaBoo
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 2:01 p.m.
I'm still waiting on the final poll out come. When can we see where our other favorites came in? I understand the poll has some voting issues, but I would still like to see the final votes.
Kyle Mattson
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 2:56 p.m.
Hi A2BugaBoo- I just added a graphic with the final breakdown.
A2BugaBoo
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 2:11 p.m.
After I had to search and search I found previous poll results http://www.annarbor.com/polls/?page=2 and it states: Fleetwood Diner 28% Nick's House of Pancakes 22% Broken Egg 17% Uptown Coney 8% Angelo's 4%
JRW
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 1:58 p.m.
"In a couple polls we had some issues with voting; those circumstances were factored into our final decisions. " What were the issues with voting?
Kyle Mattson
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 3:03 p.m.
Just some bot voting JRW, our tech team extracted those votes from the totals to compile the final tally I've included above.
Kellie Woodhouse
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 1:54 p.m.
Three great choices, each of these places are distinct and do different things great, but at the same time are kind of similar in that they're casual settings that have scores of regulars and super friendly waitstaff.
Lizzy Alfs
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 1:40 p.m.
This is unfair as I'm sitting in the office with my coffee and banana. I want french toast!!
David Cahill
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 1:21 p.m.
My personal favorite is the Northside. Yum!
golfer
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 12:49 p.m.
i think the food is secondary. i think the help waiting on you is really important. i went to nicks and they were high price. i found uptown coney on jackson and the food portions are good. the help gets A+. try them
jcj
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 12:22 p.m.
There is NO breakfast place good enough to wait in line for! Unless they have great steak & eggs.
Jessica Webster
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 3:50 p.m.
It's all about timing. 6 am on a weekday morning is a great time to visit Angelo's.
SemperFi
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 11:59 a.m.
Angelo's & Northside in a dead heat! Nothing else comes close.
tdw
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 11:30 a.m.
What's up here ? it says 4 comments and only shows 2 and I can't seem to vote for Hot Sauce
tdw
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 5:44 p.m.
Eyeheart,treetown.....if you want some REAL hot sauce go to Dundee, east side of 23 at the Cabela's exit.There's a jerky place that has a wall of different kinds.( the grim reaper and analize this comes to mind )
treetowncartel
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 5:20 p.m.
@ Eye Heart, I'll agree to disagree with you on this one. I will agree to try cholulla on my next batch of hotwings and see how versatile it is. I will also admit to putting Taco bell "Hot" Taco Sauce on egg dishes on occassion.
treetowncartel
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 3:29 p.m.
One other thing, when it comes to hot sauce, there is Frank's Red Hot, and then all the rest. That would be the one downfall of Angelo's as they try to push the later in the form of Clnacy's Fancy, at least they were last time I was there which several full moons ago.
Kyle Mattson
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 3:06 p.m.
You're not alone, although I typically mix it w/ a bit of ketchup.
tdw
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 2:44 p.m.
Oh...I'm not fretting Kyle, just a little confused.......and I like hot sauce.
Kyle Mattson
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 2:24 p.m.
Hi tdw- Sorry for the confusion, this poll was just an added feature of the live widget. We only use this type of feed on rare occasion, so don't fret you shouldn't encounter this issue too often.
LAEL
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 1:40 p.m.
I don't see a vote box either. Not a fan of the new format. Scrolling marquees are obnoxious on websites. I'm going to disallow to the livefeed/poll website from my browser and then I won't have to look at it anymore.
Lizzy Alfs
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 1:40 p.m.
Haha, I laughed out loud: still on the first POT of coffee!
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 1:01 p.m.
OK, so I want cheese and salt. How do I do that?
tdw
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 12:16 p.m.
Hmmm......I don't have a vote box.All I have under the options is a box with twitter and facebook icons next to it
Paula Gardner
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 12:02 p.m.
Sorry,I'm still on my first pot of coffee here and waking up. If you click the oblong "vote" box under the options, you'll get a window that lets you choose your favorite answer.
tdw
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 11:51 a.m.
Ok Paula that's all good and fine but how do I use it / vote ?.That's kinda of a tease reply :)
Paula Gardner
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 11:43 a.m.
This is a new poll format for us. We're all getting used to it!
tdw
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 11:37 a.m.
Well, I guess I commented before the other 2 showed up and I guess I just don't know how to vote
Paula Gardner
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 11:23 a.m.
From Gonzo in his recent statewide article: Our list of finalists was put together by your votes, as well as input from our local entertainment writers. In a couple polls we had some issues with voting; those circumstances were factored into our final decisions. The bottom line: This is supposed to be a fun search, and a great way to learn about the state's best breakfast joints.
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 11:09 a.m.
So, after you "edited" the poll to your liking, Angelo's won. No surprise there. What were the raw results, you know, as a reference?
Paula Gardner
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 1:05 p.m.
The article about Angelo's was done because they were on Gonzo's itinerary. It was a preview. It looks like you've missed my comment that quotes Gonzo's story. Here is what he told statewide readers about the top picks: Our list of finalists was put together by your votes, as well as input from our local entertainment writers. In a couple polls we had some issues with voting; those circumstances were factored into our final decisions.
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 12:16 p.m.
If you think I have a horse in this race, you are wrong. I DO know that Angelo's was WAY behind last week. I also know that they are oh so trendy and it just seems "fitting" that they won. Oh, yes, they also had a REAL nice article written about them on them on Sunday. I might try Nicks. I have had Northside before it got all trendy and cool. meh. So, I just asked a question - what were the numbers last week v this week? Staff discounts?
2617ss
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 12:09 p.m.
Hey EyeHeartA2 Cheaters never win and it seems Angelo's doesn't need to cheat to win
sloppySam
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 11:25 a.m.
hey Eye <3 a2, RU serving up the sour grapes for breakfast at your house, today?
BHospadaruk
Tue, Mar 12, 2013 : 10:59 a.m.
Nick's and Northside.....tied favorites for me!